Bowling device.



c. ZABEL. BOWLING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG 17,1908.

Patented June 8, 1909.

1): NORRIS Pznrn's co., WASHINGTONnD. t.

o invented a new and useful Improvement in space, and

CHARLES ZABEL, OF EDGEWOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA.

BowLrNe DEVICE.

No. 924,212. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 8, 1909.

Application filed August 17, 1908. Serial No. 448,848.

confining end portion 14, however, extends only opposite the pin space15, 'on the lower horizontal portion of the alley, leaving a space 16,at the side of such confining wall so that the balls can be delivered onto the alley practically on a level therewith. A suitable trough 17, isformed at the lower end of the alley.

The alley proper may be formed of any suitable material, but if thetable is built up so that it can be readily taken apart for storage asillustrated, this alley is preferably formed of suitable flexiblematerial which can be rolled for storage. Heavy linoleum is suitable forthe purpose. The drawings illustrate linoleum 18, supported on a wirefabric 19, which in turn is supported by cross bars 20. The trough 17,is formed by the fabric. The fabric is held in place by hooks 21, whichengage a cross bar 22 at the top, and a cross bar 24, at the bottom. Theend wall 14, is a part of the linoleum sheet. In any event, the alley orball surface 10, will be formed of, or covered with, somesound-deadening material so as to render the device largely noiseless.

In use of the device, the pins 25, are set up in the s ace 15, at thelower end of the alley. The ball 26, will be of about the size of theusual small sized bowling ball, except that it will be formed of solidrubber or be filled with some suitable composition so as to beractically noiseless. The ball will be deiivered in the usual way at thespace 16, at the lower end of the alley, and will roll up the alley,hitting the cross bar or cushion 11, by which it is reflected at anangle and rolls down to the pins at the lower end of the alley. Theplayer will, therefore, have to judge the angle as well as of thestraightness of deliver The ball need not hit the cushion bar, as willbe the case when the vertical part is quite long. In this case the ballascends until stopped by gravity and then descends in a straight line.

The device occupies only a small amount of space and gives aconsiderable amount of exercise as well as sport. It can be used even ina restricted space, where an ordinary bowling alley is not e.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES ZABEL, a resident of Edgewood Park, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have Bowling Devices, ofwhlch the following is a specification.

This invention relates to indoor or parlor games and particularly to adevice for playing substantially a bowling game in a small room.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterwhich is practically noiseless, which occupies a small amount of whichcan be conveniently set up and taken down, so as to adapt the same forordinary house use.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved bowling table; Fig. 2 is a sectional detail on the line 2-2Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a similar view on the, line 33, Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 isa sectional detail showing the detachable connections for the frame.

My improved bowling table comprises side frames 1, formed of anysuitable material, preferably of light metal bars, such asT irons or thelike, having legs 2, for sup orting the device, and having their upper eges practically horizontal for some distance, as at 3 and then curvedgradually upwardly as at 5 until substantially vertical at their upperends. T bars 6 extend from near the bottoms of the legs to the siderails and are united to the latter. The side frames are united bysuitable end frames 7, which are shown as diagonal braces having theirends joined to the legs by bolts 8, so as to hold the side frames inposition, but enabling the whole to be readily taken down when it isdesired to store away the device. The alley or ball surface is shown at10, being supported at its edges on the top members or rails 3, of theside frames, and conforms to the sha e of said top members, beingsubstantialy horizontal at its lower end and curving upwardly, and theupper end being substantially vertical. At the upper end of the alley isa suitable cushion, such as formed by the cross bar 11, which serves toreflect the balls when rolled upwardly against the same. At the sides ofthe alley are the confining rails 12, and at the lower end is aconfining lattice or mesh 13, and an end portion 14, of such height thatthe balls will not readily jump over the same. This possibl While theknock-down feature is of considerable importance, I wish it understoodthat the invention is not limited in this particular.

What I claim is:

1. A bowling device comprising a stationary surface horizontal at oneend and curving upwardly at its opposite end, said surface beingprovided at its lower portion with a pin space and With a ball deliveryspace at the side thereof and being thereby adapted to have a hallthrown by hand to ascend and descend on the same surface.

2. A howling device, comprising a frame, a stationary ball surface oralley thereon and being substantially horizontal at one end and curvingupwardly at its other erd, a cushion bar at the upper end of said alley,and. a trough at the lower end of said alley, said alley being providedon its lower portion with a pin space and with a hall delivery space atthe side thereof and being thereby adapted to have a ball thrown by handto ascend and descend on the same surface.

8. A howling device, comprising a frame, a stationary hall surface oralley supported thereon. and being substantially horizontal at one endand curyin g upwardlf at its other end, a cushion bar at the upper endof said alley, a trou h at the lower end of said alley, said alley beingprovided with a pin space on its horizontal portion, and a barrieraround said alley, said barrier at the lower end of the alley at theside of the pin space being not higher than the alley surface to providea space for the delivery of a ball by hand.

howling device comprising a frame, a stationary hall surface or alleyformed of I ,l i l l l I r noiseless material supported on said frameand being substantially horizontal at one end and curving upwardly toapproach the ver- I 5. A howling device comprising a frame constructedfor ready disconnection, a llexihle hall surface or alley supported bysaid frame and being horizontal at one end and curving u 'nvardly at itsopposite end, a enshion at the upper end of said alley, and a trough atthe lower end of said alley.

G. A howling device (:rnnprising side frames, cross nieinhers detnehahlyconnected to said side frames, a flexihle hall surface or alleyconnected to said frame and being horizontal at one end and curvingupwardly at its opposite end, cushion har at the upper end of saidalley, and a trough at the lovcer end of said. alley.

In testimony whereof, l. have hereunto set my hand.

\l itnesses:

Jon S. CORT, F. \V. \VrNtrEi-L

